Sep 23, 2009
The ICJ urged the Council to address the Sri Lankan authorities’ limitations on access to internally displaced persons, maintenance of internment camps through unjustifiable restrictions on freedom of movement.
The ICJ also urged the Council also to establish a group of independent experts on Zimbabwe – to help its Government investigate past and on-going human rights violations, prevent violence and boost full observance of human rights.
In addition, the ICJ denounced the fresh human rights violations in Iran following the disputed presidential election and called on the Government of Nepal to implement court-ordered arrests of military officials.
ICJ Intervention under Item 4 on Human Rights Situations-Open Letters-2009 (full text, PDF)
Sep 23, 2009
The ICJ commended the decision of at least nine States to sign the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights when it opens for signature in New York on 24 September 2009.
It called on other States, including those already engaged in procedures aimed toward becoming a party to the Optional Protocol, to follow this example and do its utmost to sign the Optional Protocol on that occasion or soon afterwards, with a view towards its ratification and subsequent entry into force. Once in force, the Optional Protocol would restore the original holistic vision of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and provide the victims of violations of economic, social and cultural with a means to seek justice at the international level.
Optional Protocol to the ICESCR-open letter-2009
Sep 21, 2009 | Advocacy, Open letters
The ICJ urged the UN Human Rights Council to establish a new expert mandate to exercise early-warning of human rights violations in crisis situations, aimed at securing the protection of civilians in conflicts.
Such a mandate would carry out a fact-finding and make recommendations to the UN in order to prevent and help stop human rights violations and crimes, and to ensure accountability of their perpetrators.
ICJ Intervention Following the Update by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights-Open Letters-2009 (Full text, PDF)
Sep 17, 2009 | Events
The ICJ and other NGOs are hosting a side event at the 12th Session of the Human Rights Council: the Role of International Law in the Protection of People of Diverse Sexual Orientations and Gender Identities.
Featured speakers include ICJ Commissioner Vitit Muntarbhorn, Kenya National Human Rights Commissioner Lawrence Mute, and Alternative Law Forum co-founder Arvind Narrain. The occasion is also the launch of the Practitioner’s Guide on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and International Human Rights Law.
HRC Side Event on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity-Events-2009 (Full text, DOC)
Sep 15, 2009 | News
The ICJ urged the UN Human Rights Council to establish a new expert mandate to improve protection of human rights of individuals in armed conflicts and generally in any crisis situations.
The ICJ requested the Council to harness protection of judges and lawyers from violence and intimidation inflicted on them for their professional functions. It also sought accountability for human rights violations and international crimes committed by the Israeli Army, Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups during the recent war in Gaza.
ICJ urges that the HRC establish new expert mandate_Prss Pelease_2009 [Full text PDF]
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